Trump Administration Issues Controversial Survey to Overseas Researchers

In the latest development, the Trump administration has initiated a contentious survey directed at researchers and organizations involved in overseas projects. This questionnaire demands disclosure of any ties to entities considered hostile, including those associated with "communist, socialist, or totalitarian parties." The survey, which was recently obtained by The New York Times, seeks responses from groups working in fields such as public health and disease research, with funding sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), among others.

The survey appears to mirror a recent inquiry sent to USAID partners, which have faced significant restructuring under the current administration. Titled "Foreign Assistance Review," recipients were instructed to respond promptly within 48 hours, igniting concerns among some grantees about potential repercussions for perceived unsatisfactory responses, including the risk of funding cancellation.

The questionnaire explicitly states that taxpayer funds should not support "dependency, socialism, corrupt regimes," advocating for an America that emphasizes domestic growth, innovation, and economic prosperity over foreign aid. This directive has raised alarms among researchers, who worry about the implications such surveys could have on scientific collaboration and international partnerships essential for global health initiatives.

As this story unfolds, the ramifications of this survey for researchers and their projects will be closely monitored, shedding light on the intersection of politics, science, and global collaboration in the current climate.